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La Fontaine de Mars

Typical parisian brasserie

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Why you will love it?

No one serves Southwestern French Cuisine better than La Fontaine de Mars. Traditional dishes such as foie gras, duck confit, and cassoulet have delighted upper-crust customers since 1908. Even President Obama has savored a meal here in 2009, along with the cozy atmosphere and vintage furnishings.

Our Insiders' Article

Intro

La Fontaine de Mars is one of the oldest traditional brasseries in Paris and since 1908, it has welcomed both amateurs and connoisseurs of French southwestern cuisine. 3 families have run the restaurant since its creation. Today, the Boudon family has kept the authentic charm of this old brasserie and its exceptional cuisine: duck comfit, magret and foie gras. Open 7 days a week except on December 28th and January 1st, this charming venue can now boast to have a lot of regular customers.

Food & Drink

As a child, Christiane, the manager of the restaurant, tasted all the meals that her aunt, mother or grandmother would prepare and loved to secretly taste the homemade foie gras. La Fontaine de Mars’ Chef Pierre tries to recreate the tastes of the old days with traditional recipes. The average price of a meal including a glass of fine Saumur wine from the Frères Foucaud or from Bordeaux is €55.

Parisianist Fun Fact: Barack Obama ordered a mixed salad, a beef filet and a crème brulée. Michelle enjoyed the foie gras, lamb and an “ile flottante” desert. As for Sedrik Allani, President of Parisianist, he enjoyed his meal as well J.

Ambiance

At La Fontaine de Mars, just like in the Southwest of France, everyone is invited to take his/her time and feel right at home. Christiane puts a lot of energy into that philosophy and it works! Regular clients come in every day for lunch while a lot of new faces arrive each day to discover the wonders of southwestern French cuisine. Many visitors, mostly from the USA or Brazil, have a meal at La Fontaine de Mars. During lunch, the ambiance is quite calm, but it’s in the evening that the area takes on a different and festive dimension.

Parisianist Tip: People like to come to La Fontaine de Mars in summer, but it’s actually in winter that the magic happens: the mushrooms are tastier, and game meat comes in regularly. Try the delicious hare à la royale with small ceps.

Decor

Pictures of bullfights, fairs, bull heads and posters of the French Southwest landscapes ornate the walls. All these decoration objects were bought by Christiane on flea markets and secondhand markets. The aim is clear: recreate the atmosphere of an old inn and perpetrate a tradition. Upstairs, the area is more appropriate for larger groups of people. As for the terrace, the fountain (an old drinking trough for the horses of Napoleon’s army), brings a bit of freshness to the customers that have chosen to take a seat under the colonial arcades.

Conclusion

It is certain that Barack Obama’s stop at La Fontaine de Mars has created a buzz, but the clients have remained the same. The regular customers still keep on coming every day, just like the businessmen that leave behind their attaché-case for an hour to enjoy a nice Cassoulet (meat and beans). And if you are lucky, you might even spot celebrities enjoying their southwestern specialties in complete intimacy.